HILLSDALE, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University volleyball team saw its record breaking season come to an end against Ferris State University today (Nov. 18) in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Quarterfinals by a score of 3-2.

The Cardinals flew out to a quick start - a 9-3 advantage - which was 20-15 late in the first game. However, the Bulldogs fought back and tied up the game at 24-24 after SVSU had reached game point at 24-21. The Cardinals pulled out the first set victory on a Becky Schroeder (Owosso, Mich./Northwood University) kill to gain the 1-0 lead. Katie Fitzgerald (Whitby, Ont./Sinclair SS) posted six kills in the first set, while Schroeder tallied four kills on seven attacks. 

In the second game, Saginaw Valley held an early 7-5 lead, but Ferris State would rebound and go up 16-11. The Bulldogs ultimately won the game and tied up the match with a 25-16 decision.

The Cardinals started off the third game by falling behind 9-2.  The Bulldogs hit .533 for the game as they cruised to a 25-13 win.

SVSU jumped out to a 18-13 lead midway through the fourth game and held a late 24-21 advantage, and would finish out the game with a kill from Lyndsay Reynolds to tie the match at 2-2.

In the deciding set, the Cardinals found themselves in an early 7-4 hole, but battled back to tie the score at 8-8. SVSU kept their momentum, gaining a 12-11 lead late in the set. However, the Bulldogs would win the last four points to end the match at 15-12.

The Cardinals were led by Becky Schroeder who earned Chili's "Player of the Match" as she tallied 11 kills with a .379 hitting percentage, including four blocks in the match. Katie Fitzgerald (Whitby, Ont./Sinclair SS) posted 16 kills, while Annie Buxton (Aurora, Ont./Aurora SS) finished the match with 14 digs and 11 kills. Junior setter Sam Breault (Bad Axe, Mich.) finished the afternoon with 46 assists, while senior libero Laura Ward (White Lake, Mich./Lakeland HS) posted 14 digs. Sophomore Lyndsay Reynolds (Saline, Mich.) also added seven kills in the contest. 

The loss ends the Saginaw Valley State University Volleyball season with a record of 18-11 in a history-making 2011 campaign where the Cardinals posted a school record 15-4 record in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.